dauphin

[O. Fr. daulphin; Fr. dauphin, from Lat. delphin us =a dolphin. The crest of the lords of Dauphiny.) The title of the eldest son of the kings of France or of the heir apparent to the throne. It arose from the circumstance of Humbert II., lord of Dauphiny, in the ninth century, having bequeathed his lordship as an appanage to the French throne, on condition that the eldest son always bore the title of Dauphin of Viennois. [DOLPHIN, DELPHIN.] IMG:content-1834.png:[blocks in formation] 1. Part of a frond. 2. Rhizome. dav-en-pört, s. [From the name of the original maker.] A kind of small writing-desk with drawers on each side. da-vin-a, dā-věne, s . [Named after Sir H. Davy, and Eng. suff. -ine , -yne ( Min .) (q. v.).] Min .: A variety of Nephelite from Vesuvius, having a feeble luster, and 12 to 14 per cent of carbonate of lime. da-vit, s. [Probably a corruption of Fr. davier =pincers.] Nautical: 1. A beam projecting from a ship's bow, for the attachment of the tackle whereby the anchor-fluke is lifted without dragging against the side of the ve el. The operation is nautically called fishing the anchor. IMG:content-1835.jpg:[blocks in formation] bow and stern of the boat fluke. respectively, and the fall is belayed on deck. When lowered the the fall-blocks are cast off simultaneously, or great danger results when the ship is under way. (Knight.)